Relations with Australia

NATO and Australia are currently strengthening relations to address shared security challenges, building on dialogue and cooperation that have been developing since 2005. Australia is one of the top non-NATO troop contributors to NATO-led operations in Afghanistan.

Highlights

Australia is one of a range of countries beyond the Euro-Atlantic area – often referred to as “partners across the globe” – with which NATO is developing relations.

In a joint political declaration in June 2012, NATO and Australia signalled their commitment to strengthen cooperation.

Work is being taken forward through an Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programme, agreed in February 2013.

Beyond cooperation in Afghanistan and on global challenges, the aim is to work together more closely on crisis and conflict management, post-conflict situations, reconstruction and facilitating humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

More background information

Over almost a decade, Australia made a valuable and significant contribution to the NATO-led ISAF mission to stabilise Afghanistan, which was completed in December 2014. With some 1100 Australian Defence Force personnel deployed, Australia was one of the largest non-NATO contributors of troops to ISAF. As part of a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Uruzgan province in southern Afghanistan, Australian personnel provided security and delivered reconstruction and community-based projects. Additionally, Australia’s Special Operations Task Group operated in direct support of ISAF elements in Uruzgan Province.

Since January 2015, Australia contributes to NATO’s Resolute Support Mission in support of the continued development of the Afghan security forces and institutions. Australia is also a leading contributor to the Afghan National Army Trust Fund, having pledged USD280 million to the fund.

In addition to working together in Afghanistan, Australia and NATO have also worked together on several projects. In 2010, Australia contributed to a NATO Trust Fund project designed to clear unexploded ordinances in Saloglu, Azerbaijan.

The Australian navy is also currently cooperating with NATO’s Counter-Piracy Task Force to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia as part of Operation Ocean Shield.

To support cooperation, Australia designated its Ambassador in Brussels as its representative to NATO. It also appointed a defence attaché in Brussels and a military representative to NATO. NATO and Australia have also concluded an agreement on the protection of classified information.

Cooperation is also underpinned by regular high-level political dialogue. In 2005, the then NATO Secretary General visited Australia. Then Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer addressed the North Atlantic Council in 2005 and 2006. Former Foreign Minister Stephen Smith met the NATO Secretary General several times and also subsequently in his capacity as Defence Minister. He addressed the North Atlantic Council in December 2008.

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd also participated in the NATO summit meeting in Bucharest in April 2008. As foreign minister, he visited NATO on several occasions, and addressed the North Atlantic Council in January 2012. Both former Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Defence Minister Stephen Smith participated in the November 2010 Lisbon Summit, and in the Chicago Summit in May 2012.

NATO’s Secretary General visited Australia in June 2012 to thank the country for its operational support and to discuss how to strengthen further the security partnership. Both Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Defence Minister David Johnston attended the meeting of ISAF troop contributors at the Wales Summit in September 2014.